Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

which adulation would tarnish) from the transcendent merit, of which it is the voluntary testimony.

"May you long enjoy that liberty which is so dear to you, and to which your name will ever be so dear. May your own virtue and a nation's prayers obtain the happiest sunshine for the decline of your days, and the choicest of future blessings. For our country's sake, and for the sake of republican liberty, it is our earnest wish that your example may be the guide of your successors; and thus, after being the ornament and safeguard of the present age, become the patrimony of our descendants."

President WASHINGTON now with supreme delight anticipated the time when he should quit the storms and agitations of publick life, for the retirement of Mount Vernon; and on the day, which terminated his Presidential course, he directed the following letter to the Secretary of State.

"DEAR SIR,

"At the conclusion of my publick employments I have thought it expedient to notice the publication of certain forged letters which first appeared in the year 1776, and were obtruded upon the publick as mine. They are said by the editor to have been found in a small portmanteau that I had left in the care of my mulatto servant named Billy, who it is pretended was taken prisoner at Fort Lee, in 1776. The period when these letters were first printed will be recollected, and what were the impressions they were intended to produce on the publick mind. It was then supposed to be of some consequence to strike at the integrity of the motives of the American Commander in Chief, and to paint his inclinations as at variance with his professions and his duty-another crisis in the affairs of America having occurred, the same weapon has been resorted to, to wound my character and deceive the people.

"The letters in question have the dates, addresses, and signatures here following."

"New-York, June 12, 1776. "To Mr. LUND WASHINGTON, at Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia. G. W.

" June 18, 1776.

"To JOHN PARK CUSTIS, Esq. at the Hon. BENEDICT CALVERT's, Esq. Mount Airy, Maryland. G. W. "New-York July 8, 1776.

"To Mr. LUND WASHINGTON, Mount Vernon, Fair

[blocks in formation]

"To Mrs. WASHINGTON. "At the time when these letters first appeared, it was notorious to the army immediately under my command, and particularly to the gentlemen attached to my person, that my mulatto man Billy had never been one moment in the power of the enemy. It is also a fact that no part of my baggage, or any of my attendants, were captured during the whole course of the war. These well known facts made it unnecessary, during the war, to call the publick attention to the forgery, by any express declaration of mine; and a firm reliance on my fellow citizens, and the abundant proofs they gave of their confidence in me, rendered it alike unnecessary to take any formal notice of the revival of the imposition, during my civil administration. But as I cannot know how soon a more serious event may succeed to that which will this day take place, I have thought it a duty that I owed to myself, to my country, and to truth, now to detail the circumstances above recited, and to add my solemn declaration that

[ocr errors]

the letters herein described, are a base forgery, and that I never saw or heard of them until they appeared in print. The present letter I commit to your care, and desire it may be deposited in the office of the Department of State as a testimony of the truth to the present generation and to posterity."

On the fourth of March 1797, he attended the Inauguration of his successor in office. Great sensibility was manifested by the members of the Legislature and other distinguished characters, when he entered the Senate Chamber; and much admiration expressed, at the complacence and delight, he manifested at seeing another clothed with the authority, with which he had himself been invested.

Having paid his affectionate compliments to Mr. Adams as President of the United States, he bid adieu to the seat of government, and hastened to the delights of domestick life. He intended that his journey should have been private, but the attempt was vain; the same affectionate and respectful attentions were on this occasion paid him, which he had received during his Presidency.

At the adoption of the Federal Constitution, foreign powers refused all negotiation with Congress, publick - credit was lost, nor was any function of a living government performed. Under his own auspices, General WASHINGTON saw a National Government firmly established, and the country rise to a state of strength and respectability; controversies with foreign nations, which had long existed, and which involved the best interests of the United States settled; the resources of the country explored and brought into action; the debts of the war funded, and credit restored, through all the ramifications of publick and private concerns; the agriculture and commerce of his country flourishing beyond example, and its capital doubled.

One cloud only at this time obscured the political horizon of the United States. France had assumed a

threatening attitude; but for the peace and safety of the country, the General confided in the patriotism of his fellow citizens, under the providence of Hea

ven.

In the rejection of the American Envoys by the Court of France, in their menaces to the United States, and in the measures adopted under the administration of Mr. Adams, his feelings were deeply interested. When the indignities of the Directory exceeded endurance, and the spirit of the American nation was roused to resistance, every eye was directed to him as the Military leader. He might, without jealousy, be placed at the head of a powerful army, and could bring into the field all the military strength and talents of the country.

Colonel Hamilton in May 1798, intimated to him this universal expectation; to whom General WASHINGTON thus replied.

"You may be assured that my mind is deeply impressed with the present situation of publick affairs, and not a little agitated by the outrageous conduct of France towards the United States, and at the inimical conduct of those partisans who aid and abet her measures. You may believe further, from assurances equally sincere, that if there was any thing in my power to be done consistently, to avert or lessen the danger of the crisis, it should be rendered with hand and heart.

"But, my dear Sir, dark as matters appear at present, and expedient as it is to be prepared for the worst that can happen (and no man is more disposed to this measure than I am) I cannot make up my mind yet, for the expectation of open war; or, in other words, for a formidable invasion by France. I cannot believe, although I think her capable of any thing, that she will attempt to do more than she has done. When she perceives the spirit and policy of this country rising into resistance, and that she has falsely calulated

upon support from a large part of the people to promote her views and influence in it, she will desist even from these practices, unless unexpected events in Europe, or the acquisition of Louisiana and the Floridas should induce her to continue them. And I believe further, that although the leaders of their party in this country will not change their sentiments, they will be obliged to change their plan, or the mode of carrying it on. The effervescence which is appearing in all quarters and the desertion of their followers, will frown them into silence, at least for a while.

"If I did not view things in this light, my mind would be infinitely more disquieted than it is: for, if a crisis should arrive when a sense of duty, or a call from my country should become so imperious as to leave me no choice, I should prepare for relinquishment, and go with as much reluctance from my present peaceful abode, as I should go to the tombs of my ancestors."

In June, President Adams wrote General WASHINGTON a letter in which he thus alluded to his again appearing in a publick character.

"In forming an army, whenever I must come to that extremity, I am at an immense loss whether to call out all the old Generals, or to appoint a young set. If the French come here, we must learn to march with a quick step, and to attack, for in that way only they are said to be vulnerable. I must tax you sometimes for advice. We must have your name, if you' will, in any case, permit us to use it. There will be more efficacy in it than in many an army."

Four days after the Secretary of War addressed him in the following manner on the same subject.

"May we flatter ourselves that, in a crisis so awful and important, you will accept the command of all our armies? I hope you will, because you alone can unite all hearts and all hands, if it is possible that they can be united."

« ForrigeFortsett »